@Ota Udeh
The Cross River State Government has launched four strategic policy documents aimed at improving access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services across the state.
The launch was organised by the Cross River State Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation in partnership with Self Help Africa under the WASH Systems for Health programme funded by the UK International Development.
The documents, unveiled on Tuesday in Calabar, include the Open Defecation Roadmap, WASH Finance Strategy for Small Towns and Rural Communities, Open Defecation Prohibition Law, and the WASH Strategic and Investment Plan for Yala Local Government Area.
Speaking during the launch at the Metropolitan Hotel, Calabar, the Commissioner for Water Resources and Sanitation, Barr. Bassey Offiong Mensah, described the initiative as a major milestone in strengthening public health, environmental sustainability and inclusive development in the state.
Mensah said the documents represented the commitment of the administration of Governor Bassey Otu to ensuring improved access to water, sanitation and hygiene services for residents, particularly in underserved rural communities.
He noted that open defecation remained a serious public health concern contributing to disease outbreaks and environmental contamination, stressing that the newly launched roadmap would provide a clear pathway towards achieving an open defecation-free Cross River State.
“The future we seek is a Cross River State where every home has access to safe water, every community enjoys decent sanitation, every school has functional hygiene facilities and every citizen lives with dignity and good health,” he said.
The commissioner added that sustainable access to water and sanitation could only be achieved through strong partnerships and sustainable financing.
According to him, the WASH Finance Strategy provides innovative approaches for mobilising resources and strengthening investments in rural communities.
Mensah also said the Yala WASH Strategic and Investment Plan would serve as a model for community-based planning and targeted interventions in other local government areas.
Representing Governor Bassey Otu at the event, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh, said the reforms were part of the administration’s commitment to improving living conditions in both urban and rural communities.
He said the government would move beyond policy launches to aggressive sensitisation and implementation at the grassroots level.
“Open defecation is actually a problem, not in the urban areas, but in the rural areas. To some people, it is a matter of culture and to some, a way of life. But we believe that with education, people will understand the dangers,” he said.
Enoh added that the government would work closely with local government councils, traditional rulers and community leaders to ensure effective implementation of the policies.
Also speaking, the Country Director of Self Help Africa, Joy Aderele, represented by Elisha Maida, described the development of the documents as a demonstration of effective coordination and stakeholder engagement in strengthening the WASH sector.
She said the reforms were developed through consultations involving government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, private sector actors and community representatives.
According to her, the collaborative approach would strengthen accountability, sustainability and shared ownership in WASH service delivery across the state.
